Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[cavepig]

So if I run 8 miles 2 weeks before the race with a longest run of 12.5 miles a month before the race, what kind of negative impact will that have on the endurance I have built up to this point in my efforts to finish Dark Side? I appreciate any thoughts or alternative suggestions I have considered.

I would think you would still retain some of that endurance built from the long run March 25 and should be fine to finish. The worst in my opinion would be trying to cram longer mileage in with already long work days and get sick. So, I would think as long as you are doing some mileage your legs will stay ready and you'll finish fine.

 

[JohnRPG]

Not a lot I can to prepare for any possible heat except to dress appropriately.

Actually, there is. For the remaining of your training runs, add an extra layer - as though it were 15-20 degrees colder than it actually is. You're going to sweat more because of it, so make sure you hydrate appropriately. The extra layer, and the extra heat and moisture you retain because of that, will help your body to be better prepared for running in Florida heat/humidity. Just - ya know - be careful about the hydration. It's much easier to become dehydrated when you're doing this.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Reporting in from Florida here. 100 miles SE of Disney, but we are generally cooler than the middle of the state due to sea breezes. This was my 10-miler this morning (started 0620):



I know y'all know it's humid here in late April, but I live and train here and it was rough today because it's been cool in the early mornings up until now. Just a PSA; no more, no less.

 

[AThrillingChase]

So here's my challenge. Beginning on Monday, I will be working at least 12 hours a day Monday through Saturday and this work schedule will continue through April 18th. Suffice it to say that makes fitting in the scheduled 14 mile run extremely difficult next week since Sunday does not work for me. Waking up really early also doesn't work because I need to be as rested as possible to handle the increased workload the next few weeks. The goal here is to finish. Time doesn't matter so long as it qualifies to complete the Kessel Run.

For background purposes, I have not missed a single scheduled run since I resumed Dark Side training following a slightly relaxed schedule for 2 weeks following the Rebel Challenge. This includes all back to back training sessions outlined by the Galloway plan for the Dark Side Challenge. My last long run was 12.5 miles on March 25th. What I'm trying to determine is how many miles I need to run for the last long run before the taper begins to not compromise my ability to finish the Dark Side Challenge. I'm averaging roughly 14 minutes 16 seconds per mile consistently.

Here are the options I'm considering that do not involve a 14 mile run next week. Please chime in with any thoughts as to what risk is entailed with these options. Also note that all the maintenance runs of 30-45 minutes recommended by Galloway will occur. I do not know if I will be able to get any runs in the week of the race due to my work schedule and travel to Orlando. But this doesn't worry me a whole lot since I would be tapering then anyways.

1. Long run of 12.5 miles on March 25th will be my final long run before the Dark Side Half on April 23rd. How much distance capacity will I lose if my final long run is roughly one month before the half? While this option would be simplest for my life, I also don't want to risk putting all the time and effort I've put into training for this over the past 2 years to waste by skipping out on a long run.
2. 5 mile run on Thursday April 6th and an 8 mile run on Friday April 7th. The benefit of this plan is that I keep some semblance of the back to back run, and have a more manageable distance in terms of how long it will take to run set against my substantially higher workload through April 18th.
3. 5 mile run on Thursday April 6th and 10-12 mile run depending on Friday April 7th. This keeps me close to race distance 2 weeks before the race. Drawback is the time it takes to put in these miles.

So if I run 8 miles 2 weeks before the race with a longest run of 12.5 miles a month before the race, what kind of negative impact will that have on the endurance I have built up to this point in my efforts to finish Dark Side? I appreciate any thoughts or alternative suggestions I have considered.

IMO you are more than good to go. And you are past pace requirements. I really only train to 10 miles for a half. For the challenge I throw in back to back 10k's. Then I focus mostly on shorter speed runs leading up to race day. I don't like doing a long run less than 2-3 weeks out for fear of aggravating something, because I did that with my IT band once. I would go with option 2 here I think. It really sounds like you will be ready!

 

[Ndusmama]

Reporting in from Florida here. 100 miles SE of Disney, but we are generally cooler than the middle of the state due to sea breezes. This was my 10-miler this morning (started 0620):

View attachment 228946

I know y'all know it's humid here in late April, but I live and train here and it was rough today because it's been cool in the early mornings up until now. Just a PSA; no more, no less.

So my 70+ weather but no humidity makes me all good.

 

[bcarey2k]

So my 70+ weather but no humidity makes me all good.

I envy your running opportunities

 

[Ndusmama]

I envy your running opportunities

You will not envy me when I am getting ready for DL half and it's over 100 at 8 am in August. Then I will envy you.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I would think you would still retain some of that endurance built from the long run March 25 and should be fine to finish. The worst in my opinion would be trying to cram longer mileage in with already long work days and get sick. So, I would think as long as you are doing some mileage your legs will stay ready and you'll finish fine.

Great point about the risk of getting sick. That would be absolutely disastrous for me because the workload is such that I can't take time off work. Better to be healthy and exhausted from work heading into the races instead of sick and exhausted heading into the race.

Actually, there is. For the remaining of your training runs, add an extra layer - as though it were 15-20 degrees colder than it actually is. You're going to sweat more because of it, so make sure you hydrate appropriately. The extra layer, and the extra heat and moisture you retain because of that, will help your body to be better prepared for running in Florida heat/humidity. Just - ya know - be careful about the hydration. It's much easier to become dehydrated when you're doing this.

That's good to know. I'll make sure to stay hydrated.

IMO you are more than good to go. And you are past pace requirements. I really only train to 10 miles for a half. For the challenge I throw in back to back 10k's. Then I focus mostly on shorter speed runs leading up to race day. I don't like doing a long run less than 2-3 weeks out for fear of aggravating something, because I did that with my IT band once. I would go with option 2 here I think. It really sounds like you will be ready!

Thank you. Figuring out how to taper and what it means to taper is something that I've just recently begun to understand. Just as you don't build up the necessary endurance overnight, you also do not lose it overnight. So it's okay to dial the training back a little bit to reduce injury risk and prepare mentally.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I did back-to-back runs this weekend - 4.5 miles yesterday and 7 today. Not very close to Dark Side Challenge distance, but both runs were at just below 11:00/mile pace, so I feel good about that. At this point, since I completed Lumiere's Challenge 5 months ago, it's not that I don't think I can do the distance, but I needed the back-to-back for a little added boost.

I'm mainly just a bit worried about weather right now and how significantly that will affect me. Here's hoping it's a bit cooler for race weekend than it sounds like it is right now.

 

[lovingeire]

Great point about the risk of getting sick. That would be absolutely disastrous for me because the workload is such that I can't take time off work. Better to be healthy and exhausted from work heading into the races instead of sick and exhausted heading into the race.

Being sick is the worst! Both my BFF and I were horribly sick for Light Side. Like I only got a couple hours sleep because I was up all night coughing. The half was miserable in particular. (And ironically my BFF and I live in different places and both ended up with something similar by the time we got to Anaheim. I just happened to be sick for days before while at my parents. Worst vacation ever!) . So try to rest as much as possible and stay healthy. Run when and what you can. Your body will remember what it's doing.

 

[DISRNR1000]

Hello Everyone.

Will Dark Side have pacers? I did not see it mentioned on the RunDisney website or the event guide, but maybe I just missed it?

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

That sounds like a good idea. I'll be traveling with a pal for this race and it would be nice to meet up again.

Yay!! I was hoping you would come

@MommaoffherRocker i vote it be in corral f with all 7000 people!

LOL it should be!

 

[bcarey2k]

Hello Everyone.

Will Dark Side have pacers? I did not see it mentioned on the RunDisney website or the event guide, but maybe I just missed it?

Probably - yes.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I did back-to-back runs this weekend - 4.5 miles yesterday and 7 today. Not very close to Dark Side Challenge distance, but both runs were at just below 11:00/mile pace, so I feel good about that. At this point, since I completed Lumiere's Challenge 5 months ago, it's not that I don't think I can do the distance, but I needed the back-to-back for a little added boost.

I'm mainly just a bit worried about weather right now and how significantly that will affect me. Here's hoping it's a bit cooler for race weekend than it sounds like it is right now.

I only do back to back 4 miles, and then back to back 10k's. If your training is there and you do at least one back to back, you should be good! I felt fresh last year for half day with that plan.

I am currently very torn on running outfits. Doing the challenge and have my Rey costume from last year. And deciding between Kylo Ren, Jyn Erso, or Han for the second race. Leaning toward Kylo - which would be black tank, black capris, a stretchy belt that really looks like his, black running sleeves (some compression but mostly made for sun protection so they are thin), and then I have a black infiniti scarf that is wide enough to put up as a hood and wrap the rest around my shoulders. I will probably pin it and wear the "hood" down most of the race, and it doesnt have the cape portion, just shoulder wrap and hood. I also have his lightsaber in key chain form from the parks. Jyn would be fun, but I wouldnt have the vest, and I would want to keep the shirt sleeveless. So I am thinking it would be too obscure that way?

Update - moot point, decided I'm going Kylo

 

[Goofy2015]

Training Update:

Thursday, March 30th: 4 Miles - 37 Minutes - 9:16 Pace - Run The Streets Mentorship Program Pace
Friday, March 31st: 10 Miles (Treadmill) - 88 Minutes - 8:48 Pace
Saturday, April 1st: 6 Miles - 55 Minutes - 9:06 Pace - Run The Streets Mentorship Program Pace
Sunday, April 2nd: 8 Miles - 65 Minutes - 8:09 Pace

#HalfMarathonMoviePrep:

Saturday, April 1st: Harry Potter and the Sorcerrer's Stone
Sunday, April 2nd: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 

[opusone]

Hello Everyone.

Will Dark Side have pacers? I did not see it mentioned on the RunDisney website or the event guide, but maybe I just missed it?

Probably - yes.

I don't think so. They didn't last year, and there's been no mention of it this year (that I have seen).

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Hello Everyone.

Will Dark Side have pacers? I did not see it mentioned on the RunDisney website or the event guide, but maybe I just missed it?

I don't think so. They didn't last year, and there's been no mention of it this year (that I have seen).

The pacers used to be sponsored by Clif, but they've dropped out from rD/Orlando altogether. Jeff Galloway and his team are in charge of that now, and I'm sure they are making every effort to provide pacers, but it's unofficial from what I can tell. (Head to his booth to find out!) I think they don't say because there's a chance they can't make it happen. They did have them for marathon weekend and princess this year so far.

 

[opusone]

The pacers used to be sponsored by Clif, but they've dropped out from rD/Orlando altogether. Jeff Galloway and his team are in charge of that now, and I'm sure they are making every effort to provide pacers, but it's unofficial from what I can tell. (Head to his booth to find out!) I think they don't say because there's a chance they can't make it happen. They did have them for marathon weekend and princess this year so far.

Good to know. How do the Galloway pacers work? Are they run/walk, or do they have run only as well? Would they have a 1:40 half marathon pacing group?

 

[cavepig]

Good to know. How do the Galloway pacers work? Are they run/walk, or do they have run only as well? Would they have a 1:40 half marathon pacing group?

My older brother saw I think the 1:40 half pacer or something around that during Wine & Dine and was confused why the person was walking so based on that I would think they all do run/walk but probably different intervals. It does seem like as Princess got closer people on facebook groups were posting that yes Galloway pacers would be at it and some were the pacers and posted their intervals.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Good to know. How do the Galloway pacers work? Are they run/walk, or do they have run only as well? Would they have a 1:40 half marathon pacing group?

All their groups are run/walk, and the fasted group for a half has been 2:00. And get this... The 2:00 group was at a 2 min run/30 sec walk schedule. Which means the running part is FAST. (For me anyway.)